Sao Paulo, Brazil – Greenpeace International released today a comprehensive crime file on JBS, the world’s biggest meat company, with new evidence again linking its business practices to deforestation in the Amazon.

(PressZoom) - Sao Paulo, Brazil – Greenpeace International released today a comprehensive crime file on JBS, the world’s biggest meat company, with new evidence again linking its business practices to deforestation in the Amazon. JBS’ leather and beef customers have reacted swiftly to the results of the investigation with seven international customers, Adidas,Â IKEA, Clarks, Princes, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Sligro Food Group all canceling their business with JBS.

“The international market is not interested in buying Amazon destruction. These contract cancellations clearly show that if JBS does not clean up its supply chain, the company will continue to lose business,” said Annette Cotter, Greenpeace International Forest Campaigner

“Until JBS clearly demonstrates it is implementing the Cattle Agreement it signed in 2009, other consumers should also remove JBS from their supply chains,” Cotter added.

In 2009, the biggest Brazilian slaughterhouses, including JBS, committed to ensuring that deforestation practices were eliminated from their supply chains. Nearly three years later, little has been done by the industry.

In particular, JBS – the world’s largest market player – has consistently failed to meet the minimum criteria to prevent cattle from deforested land or illegal activities from entering its supply chain.

The new scorecard compares the conditions laid down in the Cattle Agreement with both JBS ’s statements and actions, and Greenpeace Brazil field research over the past 18 months. The result is clear: JBS fails on every count.

“The expansion of cattle ranching is the biggest driver of deforestation in the Amazon. As the biggest meat company in the world, JBS has a responsibility and the ability to lead the industry,” Cotter said. “Despite countless meetings with Greenpeace, JBS’s actions have not matched its promises and it is still far from implementing the Cattle Agreement on the ground.”

Greenpeace is calling on JBS to fully implement the minimum criteria of the Cattle Agreement and immediately end all relationships with farms that have proven links to Amazon destruction.

But industry action alone will not be enough; responsible decisions by industry leaders must also be matched with a legal framework from the government to protect Brazil’s forests.

About 300,000 Brazilians have already signed a petition calling for a Zero Deforestation law that would offer full protection for the Amazon. With the president’s support this could become law. Greenpeace is calling on President Dilma Rousseff to support a law for Zero Deforestation in Brazil.

The scorecard outlining the role of JBS in rainforest destruction is available here: www.greenpeace.org/international/JBSscorecard

This news item was released on 2012-06-12. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for more information.